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cnbc.com
Trump warns Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ unless deal struck
The near closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the war began has led to a historic oil supply shock, which quickly sent global energy prices soaring.
cnbc.com
Treasury yields rise as Trump reiterates Iran infrastructure threat, sending oil higher
Treasury yields rose on Tuesday as President Donald Trump again warned the U.S. would strike Iranian civilian and energy infrastructure.
bbc.com
Airlines cut flights and hikes fares as fuel prices surge
Airlines have reduced services and lifted ticket costs as the Iran war weighs on jet fuel costs.
theguardian.com
What the interest rate cap on student loans means for graduates
Decision to cap rate at 6% from September is unlikely to defuse row over crippling cost of debtFull story: UK caps interest rate on student loansThe government has announced a small concession for millions of university graduates with “plan 2” student loans.However, the decision to cap the interest rate charged at 6% from September is unlikely to defuse the row over the crippling cost of degree course debts. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Novo Nordisk's explosive Wegovy pill launch draws a new wave of patients into GLP-1 weight loss treatment
CNBC spoke with five U.S. patients who recently started the pill following its launch and have varying initial experiences with the drug.
cnbc.com
U.S. crude oil rises as Trump makes ominous threat against Iran ahead of deadline
Oil prices rose after President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's civilization if his 8 p.m. ET deadline is not met.
theguardian.com
UK government caps student loan interest rates at 6% from September
Minister says change for plan 2 and 3 loans in England and Wales will protect borrowers from impact of global conflictExplainer: what the rate cap means for graduatesMillions of graduates will have the interest on their student loans capped at 6% from September as a temporary measure to protect them from the risk of rising inflation driven by war in the Middle East.Ministers acted after months of criticism over the loans becoming a “debt trap” that often leave graduates in England and Wales paying tens of thousands more than the original loan amount. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Jet fuel supply concerns grow as war on Iran drags on, airlines cut flights
Fuel prices have nearly doubled in the U.S. since the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
bbc.com
Music giant Universal gets $64bn takeover offer
The music giant behind acts such as Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter gets an offer from Bill Ackman's Pershing Square.
cnbc.com
Universal Music stock rises after Pershing Square's $64 billion takeover proposal
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square said Universal Music's stock price has "languished" due to a range of issues that can be addressed with the merger.
theguardian.com
BP shareholders advised to vote against chair over climate resolution exclusion
Glass Lewis says blocking of proposal to share company’s longer-term strategy at AGM raises transparency issues Business live – latest updatesBP shareholders should vote against its new chair over his decision to exclude a climate resolution from the company’s next annual meeting, a major proxy adviser has recommended.Glass Lewis has advised investors to vote against Albert Manifold, who has been in his post for just six months. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Broadcom shares climb as chipmaker agrees Google and Anthropic deals
Broadcom shares climbed as the chip designer announced an extension to its deal with Google on Monday.
theguardian.com
Hedge fund borrowing exposes emerging markets to greater Iran war risk, says IMF
Analysis shows developing economies more likely to experience higher interest rates and currency shocksBusiness live – latest updatesEmerging economies are at greater risk of higher interest rates and currency shocks resulting from the Iran war because of increased reliance on market investors such as hedge funds, the International Monetary Fund has warned.The IMF’s analysis shows that a cumulative $4tn flowed into emerging markets last year from outside the formal banking sector – including from hedge funds and investment funds. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Oil price fluctuates ahead of Trump's Iran deal deadline
The US president has threatened to take out Iran "in one night" if it does not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
Oil and gas crisis from Iran war worse than 1973, 1979 and 2022 together, says IEA
Oil prices swing and stock markets tense on approach to Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen strait of HormuzBusiness live – latest updatesThe oil and gas crisis triggered by the blockade of the strait of Hormuz is “more serious than the ones in 1973, 1979 and 2022 together”, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said, as Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the waterway approached on Tuesday.Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, told Le Figaro newspaper that the impact of the Middle East conflict on the oil market was larger than the combined force of the twin shocks of the 1970s and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Musk’s SpaceX courts retail investors as it aims for record-breaking stock market flotation
Elon Musk’s aerospace to AI company will host summer event to try to convince buyers it is worth $2tnBusiness live – latest updatesSpaceX will kick off the marketing for its highly anticipated stock exchange debut by hosting an event in June for 1,500 retail investors, as executives set out to convince buyers that the aerospace-to-artificial-intelligence group should be valued at $2tn.In an unusual move, the company has earmarked a large portion of its shares – potentially up to 30% – for non-professional, non-institutional investors, banking on the popularity of its chief executive, Elon Musk, to help it raise $75bn (about £56bn) in what is expected to be the largest public offering in history. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Danone CEO flags price uncertainty as Iran war escalates: ‘Nobody knows' how conflict will play out
Consumer goods companies increasingly take stock of how the Iran war may impact their operations and costs base, as the conflict enters its sixth week.
bbc.com
How high could UK petrol and diesel prices go?
For every $10 rise in oil prices, motorists face paying roughly 7p per litre more in the UK.
bbc.com
Neighbour plan to help food bank expand
The charity says the expansion at its base will give its support services a "new lease of life".
theguardian.com
JP Morgan reaches agreement with City airport for Canary Wharf’s tallest tower
Bank to submit planning application shortly, after securing deal on 265m-tall London Docklands buildingBusiness live – latest updatesJP Morgan Chase has reached agreement with London City airport to build one of Europe’s tallest office towers in the east of the capital.The £3bn tower is poised to be the tallest in the Canary Wharf financial district after JP Morgan, one of Wall Street’s biggest banks, secured approval from the airport. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
JD Vance heads to Hungary to support Viktor Orbán ahead of high-stakes election
Viktor Orbán has said the EU is a greater threat to Hungary than Russia. As an election defeat looms, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is visiting to support him.
theguardian.com
Porn, dog poo and social media snaps: the ‘taskers’ scraping the internet for Meta-owned AI firm
Scale AI gig workers describe desperation of using people’s personal profiles and copyrighted work to train AITens of thousands of people have been paid by a company part-owned by Meta to train AI by combing Instagram accounts, harvesting copyrighted work and transcribing pornographic soundtracks, the Guardian can reveal.Scale AI, 49%-controlled by Mark Zuckerberg’s social media empire, has recruited experts across fields such as medicine, physics and economics – putatively to refine top-level artificial intelligence systems through a platform called Outlier. “Become the expert that AI learns from,” it says on its site, advertising flexible work for people with strong credentials. Continue reading...
bbc.com
OpenAI encourages firms to trial four-day weeks to adapt to AI era
The ChatGPT-maker said its early policy ideas aim to prompt discussions about action needed as AI systems become more capable.
bbc.com
Plan 2 student loan interest rates capped at 6% in England
The cap on Plan 2 and postgraduate loan interest rates comes amid a risk of rising inflation.
bbc.com
How the Iran war affects your money and bills
The conflict in the Middle East has increased pressure on the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.
theguardian.com
Iceland chain offers job to man sacked by Waitrose after confronting shoplifter
Richard Walker, Iceland’s chair, says Walker Smith is ‘welcome to a job with us’ as public fundraiser hits £7,500Keir Starmer’s cost of living tsar, who is the chair of Iceland, has offered a job to a worker who was sacked from Waitrose after trying to stop a shoplifter.Waitrose faced public outcry over its treatment of Walker Smith, who was fired two days after he stopped the shoplifter taking items from the Easter egg display, including Lindt chocolate bunnies. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
ASML shares fall after proposed U.S. export curbs target an already fragile China market
Proposed U.S. restrictions would target ASML's deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machine, which Chinese companies have so far been able to access.
bbc.com
Air India CEO steps down early as losses mount
Wilson, whose term was set to end in 2027, will remain CEO and MD until a successor is appointed.
cnbc.com
'The thaw is real': Indian delegation visits China to talk EVs and more
As the Iran war disrupts energy flows, Indian firms make their first China trip in five years, seeking EV, battery and renewable tie-ups.
theguardian.com
A new economic superpower could spark a global retreat from fossil fuels | Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope
Eighty-five countries have sought a roadmap to phasing out fossil fuels. A conference this month offers hope they could uniteThis article is published as part of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate NowThe Iran war is also a climate war. Beyond its terrible human costs, the war’s disruptions of oil, gas, fertilizer and other shipments is another reminder of the risks inherent in basing the world economy on fossil fuels. The war’s jets, missiles and aircraft carriers, and the tankers, refineries and buildings they blow up, represent millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions that further imperil a climate system that is already “very close” to a point of no return, scientists say, after which runaway global warming could not be stopped. Nevertheless, petrostate leaders around the world continue doing their utmost to stave off a desperately needed course correction.Now, a little noticed ray of hope may be peeking over the horizon.Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope are co-founders of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Samsung shares rise after profit seen jumping 8-fold on AI chip boom
Samsung Electronics forecast record first-quarter operating profit that came in far above analyst estimates on booming demand for AI memory chips.
cnbc.com
‘All roads lead to higher prices and slower growth,' warns IMF chief as Iran war hits global economy
‘All roads lead to higher prices and slower growth,' warns IMF chief as Iran war hits global economy
theguardian.com
Universal Music, home to Taylor Swift and Drake, receives €55bn takeover offer
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square claims world’s biggest music company has suffered because of delay of US listingBusiness live – latest updatesBillionaire Bill Ackman’s hedge fund has offered to buy Universal Music Group (UMG) in a deal that values the world’s biggest music company at around €55bn (£48bn).Pershing Square, the New-York based hedge fund, has made a bid for the business, which is home to artists including Taylor Swift and Elton John, with a cash and stock deal that would move its stock market listing from Amsterdam to New York. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Minimum wage: Who is getting a pay rise and how much is it?
Increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage mean 2.7 million workers will be paid more from April.
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors assess Trump's hardened rhetoric on Iran war
Trump renewed threats on targeting Iran's civilian infrastructure if a peace deal is not reached in less than 24 hours, while signaling Iranian leadership is negotiating in earnest.
bbc.com
Price of first class stamp rises to £1.80
The rise come as the postal service faces criticism over missing delivery targets.
theguardian.com
My mother has been overpaid her civil service pension and ordered to repay it
Through no fault of their own, she faces repaying £100 a month until she is 93 or face legal actionMy 66-year-old mother has been told that she has been overpaid her civil service pension by £40,000 and must repay it, or face legal action. Once the tax she’s paid on the income is deducted, she owes £32,000.Her monthly pension payments have now been cut, which means her annual income will fall from £19,700 to £12,000, and she was, additionally, ordered to repay £496 a month for five years. This was later reduced to £100 a month, and a charge was put on her house as security. She’s been told she will have paid everything she owes when she’s 93. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trump says Iran can 'be taken out in one night'
Sharpening rhetoric erodes confidence of a breakthrough between Iran and the White House ahead of an 8 p.m. ET deadline.
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: Why AI isn't replacing jobs in China (yet)
Rapid adoption of artificial intelligence has many in Silicon Valley reeling from news of layoffs. Engineers in China appear to be more insulated.
bbc.com
Alderney fuel duty relief proposed as prices rise
Politician recommends fuel duty relief, with Alderney's prices more than 60% higher than UK average.
theguardian.com
Calls grow for UK government to automatically release child trust funds at 21
State-funded savings accounts set up for children at birth going unclaimed, with £1.5bn estimated to be sitting in bank accountsAs Elle Middlemas approached her 18th birthday, she began wondering if she had a child trust fund, a government savings account given to all children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, that can be accessed as soon as they officially hit adulthood.She quickly hit a dead end. She wasn’t sure if she was even owed the money and could find no information online. An email to HMRC seeking clarity led her nowhere. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK manufacturers ‘will pay £940m a year more in business rates due to Reeves changes’
Government should look at ways to help as firms are paying disproportionate bills, says MakeUKBritish manufacturers have said they will have to pay an extra £940m a year in business rates because of changes by Rachel Reeves that come into effect this month.Manufacturers face a disproportionate business rates bill because they often have large factory floors, according to analysis by MakeUK, an industry lobby group. It said that factories accounted for a fifth of England and Wales’s property by rateable value, despite manufacturers only accounting for a 10th of economic output. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Italy has the best benefits’: Milan takes on Dubai as home for the super-rich
With the UAE under fire from Iranian missiles, wealthy investors are turning to Italy’s flat-tax havenJust over a month ago, Dubai was the obvious destination for wealthy Britons in search of a new home. Few cities allow you to earn vast sums tax-free and spend them across any number of luxury hotels, restaurants and shops.But as the United Arab Emirates comes under Iranian fire, Dubai’s reputation – in part created by emigrant influencers – as a haven for the global elite is eroding. Super-rich UK nationals are now looking for a route back to Europe; and Milan, the financial centre of Italy, is climbing to the top of the list. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Markets hold breath as Trump's Iran deadline nears
Oil prices rose again as President Donald Trump stepped up his threats against Iran if Tehran does not come to a deal on the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
India's high-growth economy gets a Middle East oil shock
India's currency, stocks and growth projections take a beating as the country faces a triple energy shock due to Iran war.
bbc.com
Trump's deadline looms but Asian nations already have deals with Iran
Nations in the region have been keen to reach agreements as their economies are heavily reliant on Middle East energy.
bbc.com
Businesses scramble to get noticed by AI search
Firms are changing the way they present information on their websites, so they get noticed by AI.
theguardian.com
Tech companies are cutting jobs and betting on AI. The payoff is far from guaranteed
AI experts say we’re living in an experiment that may fundamentally change the model of workSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHundreds of thousands of tech workers are facing a harsh reality. Their well-paying jobs are no longer safe. Now that artificial intelligence (AI) is here, their futures don’t look as bright as they did a decade ago.As US tech companies have ramped up investments in AI, they’ve slashed a staggering number of jobs. Microsoft cut 15,000 workers last year. Amazon laid off 30,000 employees in the last six months. Financial-services company Block eliminated more than 4,000 people, or 40% of its workforce, in February. Meta laid off more than 1,000 in the last six months, and, according to a Reuters report, may cut 20% of all employees in the near future. Just this week, the software giant Oracle laid off thousands of workers. Smaller players like Pinterest and Atlassian also made recent cuts, culling about 15% and 10% of their workforces, respectively. Estimates put the total number of tech layoffs in the past year at more than 165,000, according to the tracker Layoffs.fyi. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump says Iran 'can be taken out in one night' – video
At a press conference, the US president, Donald Trump, addressed his latest deadline for Tehran to reach a deal (8pm ET on Tuesday), adding: “The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.” Trump also threatened to jail a journalist – or journalists – who reported that a second US airman was missing after being shot down by Iran on Friday in an effort to identify their source. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for specifics about the media company Trump was referring to. A White House official later said an investigation was under way.Middle East crisis live: Trump says Iran ‘can be taken out in one night, and that might be tomorrow night’Trump threatens to jail journalist to find source of second missing airman report Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Offbeat Wall Street research firm says it sent an analyst to Strait of Hormuz. Here's what they learned
Before the U.S and Israel began their war against Iran, about 20% of the world's oil was shipped through the narrow Strait of Hormuz.
cnbc.com
Trump says Iran ceasefire proposal 'significant' but 'not good enough' as Hormuz Strait deadline nears
The 45-day ceasefire proposal, which could lead to an end to the war, is reportedly being discussed by the U.S., Iran and a group of regional mediators.
bbc.com
Oil prices choppy after expletive-laden Trump threat to Iran
Brent crude rose above $110 then eased as the US and Iran traded plans for a potential ceasefire.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Trump’s apocalyptic threats: a sign not of strength, but of moral and strategic weakness | Editorial
An expletive-ridden post on social media shamed the office of the US president. Its substantive message, if acted on, would be a war crimeArticle 52 of the first additional protocol to the Geneva conventions prohibits attacks on civilian targets. It is on those grounds that the international criminal court has issued arrest warrants for Russian military officers and officials responsible for attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Such assaults, and the missiles rained on Ukrainian cities and towns in order to terrify and demoralise, constitute war crimes. Exactly the same would apply to the United States, should Donald Trump’s threats to bomb Iran back to the “stone age” this week be carried out.Such basic tenets of international law bear repeating at a time when Mr Trump and his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, appear to speak as if from within a bloodthirsty fever dream. Glorying repulsively in his capacity to order death and destruction from the Pentagon, Mr Hegseth, an Evangelical Christian, has presented Operation Epic Fury as a 21st-century crusade “to break the teeth of the ungodly”. On social media at the weekend, Mr Trump topped that by unleashing a stream of expletive-ridden abuse, ranting that unless Iran reopens the strait of Hormuz to shipping, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day … Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell”.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump's Iran ultimatum and signals of a possible deal keep investors on tenterhooks
Investors head into what could be the most consequential week of the Iran conflict, scrambling to position for binary outcomes: an imminent deal or further escalation.
theguardian.com
Dozens of firms risk losing B Corp status after standards overhaul
Tougher ethical certification process requires companies to meet standards in every one out of seven categoriesDozens of companies may be at risk of losing their coveted B Corp ethical status after the organisation behind the corporate kite-marking system raised the standards required to qualify.B Lab, which oversees B Corp certification, launched the biggest overhaul in its 19-year history earlier this month, scrapping a system under which companies must gather enough points across multiple categories to qualify. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Struggling families like mine don’t talk about the cost of living any more – now it’s the cost of survival | Ella Michalski
Trying to make ends meet is an impossible effort, and things are rapidly getting worse. It’s time the government listened to people like usElla Michalski is part of Changing Realities, a project working with low-income familiesIn times of war, it is right that we focus on the human suffering of those affected by military action. But its ripple effects have worsened an already dire set of living standards for families like mine, who simply cannot meet the rising costs of the most basic of essentials. With Bank of England research showing that companies are expected to raise prices rapidly over the coming months, we feel genuinely terrified about the costs we’ll be facing.What was once considered a temporary fiscal emergency after the invasion of Ukraine is now a persistent, gruelling reality for too many. The term “crisis” suggests something that we could move beyond. But this impossible effort to make ends meet is a constant now for millions. It has been going on for so long that it has become almost normal. Having to make impossible decisions about what to go without, and what vital item of expenditure can wait another week – or more likely month – is not normal, is not right; and it harms millions of families, day after day.Ella Michalski is part of Changing Realities, a collaboration of parents and low-income families from across the UK working with researchers from theUniversity of Glasgow, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Child Poverty Action GroupDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Don’t believe Trump’s claims about making life more affordable | Steven Greenhouse
The president has boasted about cutting prices of drugs, housing, food and gasoline. It’s grossly exaggerated nonsenseIn recent months, Donald Trump has made some absurd comments about inflation, saying the affordability crisis is “a hoax” and “I won affordability,” a clumsy, questionable claim meaning that he somehow conquered inflation. Trump recognizes that affordability is a huge issue, and with his war against Iran proving to be a big political loser, he seems eager to score some political points by telling Americans that he’s moving boldly to cut living costs. But as with everything Trump says, people shouldn’t be tricked by his slick salesmanship.Trump has boasted about cutting prescription drug prices, housing prices, food prices and gasoline prices. All that might be great public relations for Trump, but it’s grossly exaggerated nonsense. Trump’s much-ballyhooed efforts to fight inflation are essentially diddlysquat. Many of them are mini efforts that have had mini effects in reducing prices. They’re as meaningful as a degree from Trump University.Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labour and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
cnbc.com
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in annual letter cites risks in geopolitics, AI and private markets
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in his annual letter to shareholders noted the country's 250th anniversary and called for a broad recommitment to American ideals.
theguardian.com
‘A surrender to special interests’: alarm as Utah shields fossil-fuel companies
New legislation comes amid push from big oil, as critics warn polluters’ profits prioritized over Americans’ healthUtah has made it nearly impossible for residents to hold fossil fuel companies legally accountable for climate damages in a move one advocacy group described as putting “profits for the biggest polluters over communities”, with other states expected to follow suit.The new state legislation comes as part of a push from big oil and its political allies – including groups tied to rightwing impresario Leonard Leo – for legal immunity in red statehouses and Congress, with a goal of winning state and federal legal immunity similar to the liability waiver granted to the firearms industry in 2005. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
War in Iran is boosting profits for oil and defense companies as US gas prices soar
As Americans struggle with rising prices, Lockheed Martin, Shell and other companies are experiencing gainsTwo weeks into the US-Israel war with Iran, the White House was fielding heavy criticism that the conflict would drive up gas prices and frustrate voters. Donald Trump turned to Truth Social to appease Americans about gas prices, which were slowly climbing toward $4 a gallon.“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” he wrote. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Thousands of small UK firms’ energy bills set to more than double due to Iran war
Companies using heating oil have already begun rationing their fuel use, says Federation of Small BusinessesMiddle East crisis – live updatesThousands of independent businesses across the UK are braced for their energy bills to more than double owing to the sharp rise in heating oil costs as the war in Iran pushed Europe’s fuel market prices to fresh record highs.About 7% of all small and medium-sized companies warm their properties and provide hot water using heating oil, which in some cases has more than doubled in recent weeks. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
New UK farm inheritance tax rule will cause ‘significant challenges’, say accountants
Levy on inherited farms and family businesses worth £2.5m or more comes into force 6 AprilA new inheritance tax regime for UK farms and family businesses comes into force on Monday and will present “significant challenges” for those affected, according to accountants.In October 2024 the government announced plans to levy inheritance tax on farms – prompting an outcry in many quarters. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Silent killers': How AI start-ups are trying to solve one of the retail industry's biggest problems
The rapid evolution of generative AI has finally made these applications good enough to meaningfully impact retailers' bottom lines.
cnbc.com
India turns to Iran for oil and gas after 7-year hiatus, signaling limits to U.S. tilt
India has resumed oil and gas imports from Iran after seven years, in a bid to rebalance its ties with Tehran and secure supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
Charity 'feels the pinch' of higher energy prices
The Felix Project is among the organisations feeling the effects of increased costs due to the conflict in Iran.
bbc.com
'I jump in the sea to refresh my brain': How remote workers are boosting coastal towns
The rise in remote working means many professionals are choosing to settle in coastal and rural towns.
theguardian.com
Valid Euro Car Parks ticket holders chased by debt collectors
Even if motorists can provide evidence they’ve paid for parking, they are threatened with bailiffs and courtDrivers have accused a leading car park management company of issuing “false” parking fines – leaving one mother to defend herself from multiple debt collection agencies sent by the company.Jane Winder says she was sent letters from five different debt collection agencies each asking her to pay £170 after she was accused of not purchasing a £2.30 parking ticket at a car park in Lancashire managed by Euro Car Parks. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It started with a tipoff’: how a Guardian investigation exposed child sex trafficking on Facebook and Instagram
Meta has just lost a multimillion-dollar legal battle over its failure to prevent children being sold on its platforms. Here’s how we uncovered evidence that became part of the case against itIt started with a tipoff. I was reporting on the trafficking and exploitation of migrant workers in the Gulf when a source I had known for more than a decade reached out. They told me that child sexual abuse trafficking in the US was surging. As the Covid pandemic pushed predators online, some were using Facebook and Instagram to buy and sell children.It was 2021 and I was about to begin an investigation with Mei-Ling McNamara, a human rights journalist, that would lead to the tech company Meta losing a multimillion-pound court case in March this year. The company had not yet rebranded and was known as Facebook, and there had not been any reporting on how children were being trafficked on its platforms. Experts from anti-trafficking nonprofit organisations and an American law enforcement official talked me through the crimes they were seeing. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
AI data center boom ‘stress tests’ insurers as private capital floods in
Rapid technological advancements and the huge sums of money flowing into the data center are posing both risks and rewards for insurers.
theguardian.com
Sick pay rule changes to benefit up to 9.6m UK workers, TUC says
Union says new entitlements, part of Employment Rights Act 2025, will help lower-income householdsUp to 9.6 million UK workers are to benefit from the changes to sick pay rules, according to unions. They say the policy has widespread support from voters despite pushback from some businesses.From Monday, about 8.4 million workers who rely on statutory sick pay – the minimum amount employers must pay – will be paid from the first day of becoming ill rather than from day four, according to an analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Move over Murdochs, here come the Ellisons – podcast
Margaret Sullivan on the the billionaire father and son buying up the US mediaSpeaking at a press conference last month, the US secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, criticised CNN’s ‘fake news’ coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran.‘The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,’ he told the room of journalists. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Spain's huge pork industry seeks salvation from swine fever threat
Countries around the world, including the US, have already stopped imports over the outbreak.
bbc.com
Benefits and pensions rise as two-child cap ends
Families on some benefits with three or more children will get an average rise of £4,100 a year.
bbc.com
How China fell for a lobster: What an AI assistant tells us about Beijing's ambition
The AI agent sparked a frenzy of "raising lobsters" in March, with users training the tool to suit their needs.
cnbc.com
Top Wall Street analysts see strong growth potential in these 3 stocks
Investors should look beyond short-term volatility and consider these growth stocks that analysts see upside for, according to TipRanks.
bbc.com
Pepsi withdraws as UK festival sponsor after Kanye West backlash
Sir Keir Starmer says it is "deeply concerning" the rapper is set to headline a festival after recent antisemitic comments.
theguardian.com
Starmer attacks Greens, saying vote for Labour rivals puts new workers’ rights at risk
PM also criticises business figures and opponents of changes, many of which come into force on MondayWorkers, pensioners and children: all better off. Ignore the critics – we really are standing up for working peopleKeir Starmer has used a series of new workers rights that come into force on Monday to attack the Green party, saying a vote for Labour’s rivals puts such progress on sick pay, parental leave and zero-hours contracts at risk.The prime minister also took a swipe at business figures and opponents of what he described as the biggest strengthening of workers’ rights in a generation, dismissing “vested interests” who had warned against them. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump vows Iran will be 'living in Hell' by Tuesday if Strait of Hormuz deadline missed
"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!" Trump said in a Truth Social post.
theguardian.com
Workers, pensioners and children: all better off. Ignore the critics – we really are standing up for working people | Keir Starmer
Day-one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave begin on Monday, and that fits the pattern. From my own life, I know people’s anxieties, and I will respondStarmer attacks Greens, saying vote for Labour rivals puts new workers’ rights at riskThis week 27 years ago, a Labour government introduced the minimum wage. At the time, the voices of the status quo lined up against it, but Labour made a choice: to stand up for working people. My government is doing the same.On Monday, the biggest strengthening of workers’ rights in a generation comes into force. For the first time, workers gain day-one rights to statutory sick pay and paternity leave. No one should be forced to choose between their health and their wages, or miss those first precious days with their child because of insecurity at work.Keir Starmer is the UK prime minister Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How Paris swapped cars for bikes – and transformed its streets
Under Anne Hidalgo – mayor for 12 years until last week – the French capital added bike lanes, cut traffic and reclaimed public space, but not without resistanceWhen Corentin Roudaut moved to Paris 10 years ago, he was too scared to cycle. The IT developer had biked everywhere as a student in Rennes but felt overwhelmed by the bustling French capital. Cars were everywhere. Cyclists had almost no protection.But once authorities carved out space for a segregated bike lane on Boulevard Voltaire near his home in the 11th arrondissement, Roudaut returned to the two-wheel commute and did not look back. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘I always considered social media evil’: big tobacco whistleblower on tech’s addictive products
Jeffrey Stephen Wigand revealed how tobacco companies targeted children; now he sees similar marketing by big techA key whistleblower in the tobacco industry’s landmark trials of the 1990s has been watching big tech’s recent court battles closely. Jeffrey Stephen Wigand, a biochemist who helped reveal how tobacco companies targeted children and hid just how addictive cigarettes were, has been struck with a feeling of familiarity. Last week’s verdict in a major social media trial that Meta and YouTube deliberately designed addictive products has only strengthened comparisons to the legal crackdown on big tobacco. Wigand sees it, too. His first thought, as he learned about the litigation in California, was that social media companies, through their advertisements, were trying to addict children – much like the tobacco industry did.A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube to be negligent last week. Plaintiffs’ lawyers relied heavily on internal documents and correspondence to demonstrate that company leadership dismissed concerns about how features of social media could be harmful. Meta was also found liable in a separate trial in New Mexico, alleging that it had failed to prevent child sexual exploitation. These verdicts are the first time Meta has been found liable for how its products affect young people – after years of criticism, much of it from angry parents who feel social media harmed their children’s mental health. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How Trump’s Iran war could make the world more reliant on coal
The energy crisis sparked by the war is making some countries consider ramping up their use of dirty fuelsNot two months in office, as the price of west Texas crude approached $14 a barrel, Jimmy Carter, then president, donned a cardigan to speak candidly about his strategy to face the permanent energy shortage he saw in the nation’s future.His “fireside chat” is mostly remembered for asking Americans to lower the thermostat to 65F(18C) in the daytime and 55F at night, an idea that didn’t go down too well in the bitter winter of 1977. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Higher energy costs from Iran war could threaten fragile economics of AI boom | Heather Stewart
Industry with business model not yet firmly established and investments financed by huge debts is particularly at riskDonald Trump’s most immediate concern in demanding Iran reopen the strait of Hormuz may be rocketing US gasoline prices, but if the conflict drags on, higher energy costs will be felt far beyond the pumps.Systemically higher power prices and fractured supply chains will squeeze industries and consumers worldwide. For the US, one consequence may be to threaten the fragile economics of the AI boom. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s all fear and headlines’: energy traders race to keep pace with volatile oil markets
Market volatility caused by Middle East conflict exposes energy traders to heavy losses and rumours of insider trading at the highest levelOn the weekend that US-Israeli drones first began to rain down on Tehran, energy traders across the world’s major financial centres began to redraw their strategies.When they returned to their trading desks on that March Monday morning, they found oil and gas prices spiking amid a market nightmare made real: the unprecedented shutdown of the vital trade route through the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Anything but autos': Can defense save Europe’s ailing car industry?
The transition from wheels to weapons is achievable in part because many of the underlying skills are highly transferable, according to experts.
theguardian.com
Trussonomics still haunts parties’ economic promises in run-up to UK local elections | Phillip Inman
Greens, Reform UK, Your Party, Conservatives and even Lib Dems are making extravagant spending pledgesAs local and regional elections across the UK loom into view, it is clear the spectre of Trussonomics lives on. The Greens, Reform UK, Your Party, Restore Britain, the Conservatives and even the Liberal Democrats cannot help making extravagant spending promises, often paid for by cutting something or borrowing more that, they argue, will have no negative economic consequences.Or if they do, the costs will be borne by people and businesses they do not care about. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Donald Trump says 'Cuba's next' but what does it mean? – video explainer
The US president seems to have turned his attention to Cuba in recent weeks, saying that it was 'next'. Officials from both countries have reportedly been in negotiations since February however the content of the discussions remains unclear. The Guardian spoke with professor emeritus of international relations Dr Philip Brenner about what the US might really want with the Island Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Over the top and fun:’ TGI Fridays boss insists time is right for a UK revival
Ray Blanchette admits he may be a ‘little crazy’ as he outlines chain’s hopes of building 1,000 outlets globally“I am a little crazy maybe,” admits Ray Blanchette, a former TGI Fridays kitchen manager who has taken on the revival of the bar-restaurant chain’s UK business in the face of blasting industry headwinds.Blanchette’s family investment firm, Sugarloaf, rescued the Dallas-based parent business from administration in 2025. He then went on to pick up its UK arm in January after the local franchisee got into difficulties, retaining 33 UK restaurants but closing 16, with the loss of 456 jobs. Continue reading...
bbc.com
State pension age starts rising to 67 - here's how much you get and when
The age at which people can start receiving the state pension is going up in stages over the next two years.
bbc.com
M&S boss calls for more action on crime and abuse of staff
Thinus Keeve's comments come days after an M&S store was targeted during disorder in south London.
bbc.com
French-owned ship passes through Strait of Hormuz
It appears to be the first ship owned by a major European firm to go through the strait since the conflict began.
theguardian.com
What’s the biggest challenge facing the Easter Bunny this year? | Fiona Katauskas
Despite Donald Trump’s demands, he won’t be pouring oil on troubled watersSee more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here Continue reading...
bbc.com
US jobs surge unexpectedly in March despite Iran war
Employers added 178,000 jobs, far more than had expected, the Labor Department says.
cnbc.com
Chinese chip firms hit record high revenue driven by the AI boom and U.S. curbs
Chinese chip companies have benefited from strong domestic demand for AI as U.S. tech curbs have bolstered local firms.
bbc.com
'I ended up paying £500': Your subscription trap stories
Many readers have experienced the ordeal of cancelling a subscription.
bbc.com
Oil prices jump and shares drop after Trump threatens more Iran strikes
The US president said he'll bring Iran "back to the Stone Age" but gave no detail on ending the war.
bbc.com
Pharmaceuticals face 100% tariffs in US - unless firms strike a deal
The order does not affect generic medicines, the most commonly used in the US.
bbc.com
National Minimum Wage rises this week
Around 2.7 million people are set to receive a pay rise this week as the national minimum wage goes up by 50p to £12.71 for over 21s.
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions
A crackdown on "subscription traps" could save the average person nearly £170 a year, according to the Department for Business and Trade.
cnbc.com
Analysis: Trump's Iran speech ignores the risks of a return to the 1970s
Oil shocks crippled past presidencies. The Iran war is putting Trump into the danger zone.
bbc.com
A year on: Four ways Trump's tariffs have changed the global economy
US tariffs stand at the highest rate in decades. But what has the impact been?
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions and get refunds
Consumers will be able to cancel unwanted subscriptions 'at the click of a button', the government said.
bbc.com
How will car finance compensation payments work?
Millions could be entitled to compensation as a result of commission arrangements between lenders and dealers.
bbc.com
Are domes and spheres the future of entertainment?
Rivals are emerging for the Las Vegas Sphere - are domes and spheres the future for entertainment?
bbc.com
Why Chinese tech companies are racing to set up in Hong Kong
Mainland firms are using the territory to test products and as a springboard for global expansion.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
'Affordability is the biggest thing' - Conservatives mixed on economy under Trump
Conservatives gathered at the annual CPAC conference in Texas were mixed when asked about their feelings on the current economy.
bbc.com
The spiky cactus fruit giving Indian farmers a cash boost
Indian farmers are turning to dragon fruit as a profitable alternative to mangoes and coffee.
bbc.com
Who knew Lord Sugar is a table tennis fan?
The Apprentice candidates try to sell a table tennis set live on TV.
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
The homeless teenager who became a successful advertising boss
Greg Daily has swapped sleeping on friends' sofas for running a popular digital marketing company.
bbc.com
Would you build your own apps?
Start-ups are offering tech for novices to create apps with the help of AI.
bbc.com
US weight-loss drugmakers slash prices in fight to win customers
Weight-loss drug prices are falling in the US - but can the example be repeated?
bbc.com
Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help
The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.
bbc.com
'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym
Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.
bbc.com
Home working, long leases and rise of parking apps - what went wrong for NCP
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day's parking fail to turn a profit?
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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